The stepson of a woman in Connecticut disclosed to detectives that he had been held against his will for two decades, starting at the age of 11. Despite reports from his former school principal and elementary school staff about the alleged mistreatment of the now-adult man, many individuals, including his own family members, chose to ignore the situation, as stated in legal documents. Kimberly Sullivan, aged 56, was taken into custody on Wednesday for supposedly keeping her 32-year-old stepson captive and subjecting him to “prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment,” according to a post by the Waterbury police on Facebook. Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo expressed his sorrow and disbelief over the victim’s suffering for more than two decades in a social media post. He praised the relentless investigative work put in by the officers and the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, ensuring that justice is served and the perpetrator is fully held accountable for the dreadful crimes. Records from the Connecticut Department of Corrections reveal that Sullivan is currently in police detention with a bond set at $300,000, facing charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and first-degree reckless endangerment. In response to the accusations, Ioannis Kaloidis, Sullivan’s attorney, stated to USA TODAY that she has no prior criminal record and has never harmed anyone. He emphasized that she denies the allegations and urged people not to rush to judgment, expressing confidence that she will be cleared as more facts come to light. The stepson’s account of being held captive for two decades is detailed in the following way:
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Stepson of Kimberly Sullivan: ‘I yearned for my freedom’
On February 17, Waterbury Police and Fire departments were called to Kimberly Sullivan’s residence on Blake Street at around 8:42 p.m. After extinguishing a reported fire, a disturbing scene was uncovered. While Sullivan managed to escape the house, her stepson was found inside and was rescued by firefighters. Suffering from smoke inhalation and fire exposure, the man disclosed to first responders that he intentionally started the fire in his room using a lighter, hand sanitizer, and paper, expressing his desire for freedom. He revealed that Sullivan had confined him since he was 11 years old. Waterbury police’s investigation revealed that the stepson was in an extremely emaciated state and had not received any medical or dental care during his captivity, with minimal food and water provided, leading to severe malnourishment. Upon exiting the residence, he was described as unkempt, with rotten teeth and matted hair, as per an arrest warrant obtained by USA TODAY. The stepson informed the police that he was locked in his room due to an external lock on the door. At the age of 3,
During the evenings, the stepson would often rummage through food wrappings, as detailed in the warrant. He recalled resorting to drinking water from the toilet due to limited food and even had to scavenge meals from schoolchildren or garbage. The room he was confined in always had a lock on the outside, and his routine became consistently abusive after being withdrawn from school in fourth grade following visits from the Department of Children and Families.
The former principal of Barnard Elementary School, Tom Pannone, expressed regret over the lack of action taken despite concerns raised about the stepson’s well-being from a young age. The stepson was confined for extended hours each day, with minimal breaks allowed only for chores. His situation deteriorated further following his father’s death, leading to even stricter restrictions on his movements and diet.
Relatives, including his sisters, were aware of the abuse but did not intervene. The stepson feared repercussions if he spoke out, as he believed Sullivan would withhold what little food and freedom he had. The stepson lived in a cramped, unheated space on the second floor of Sullivan’s home, with minimal access to basic necessities like soap and shampoo.
According to the charging document, the man explained to police that he had not cut his hair in three years before washing it. The document also mentions that Sullivan’s stepson’s main link to the outside world was a radio kept outside his bedroom, which he used along with a calendar to keep track of time. Despite having a reading level equivalent to fourth grade, he was given three to four books each year for education and used them along with a dictionary to self-educate. He demonstrated knowledge of flammability in hand sanitizer by reading.
Sullivan initially claimed to detectives on the day of the fire that she did not know what happened and found her stepson outside his room amidst the smoke. She mentioned that her stepson had not been diagnosed with any mental conditions as his father was against seeking medical help. Evaluations conducted after the fire revealed physical limitations and mental health issues, including PTSD and depression, in Sullivan’s stepson.
Sullivan’s attorney, Kaloidis, stated that she was shocked by the accusations. Sullivan told investigators that her stepson had unrestricted movement in the house and was not confined to his room.
